USING A MOBILE DEVICE AS A HEARING AID

• US 20130044907A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klinghult, Gunnar
• Application Number:
  US13/586,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20130044907A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

The invention is directed to systems, methods and computer program products for receiving and processing a plurality of electromagnetic signals at a mobile device. The plurality of electromagnetic signals includes electromagnetic signals broadcast from a broadcast multi-loop coil that encircles a space in which a mobile device is located. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile device includes a processor, an interface in operable communication with the processor, a first multi-loop coil that captures an electromagnetic signal broadcast from the broadcast multi-loop coil, and an operational amplifier that receives the electromagnetic signal from the first multi-loop coil and converts the electromagnetic signal into at least one of an audio signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal that is audibly communicated to the user through the interface.

Claims

1. A mobile device capable of receiving and processing a plurality of electromagnetic signals, including electromagnetic signals from a broadcast multi-loop coil that encircles a space near where the mobile device is located, the mobile device comprising:

a processor configured to process the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

an interface in operable communication with the processor, wherein the interface is configured to communicate to a user of the mobile device information pertaining to at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

a first multi-loop coil that captures an electromagnetic signal broadcast from the broadcast multi-loop coil; and

an amplifier that receives the electromagnetic signal from the first multi-loop coil and converts the electromagnetic signal into at least one of an audio signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal that is audibly communicated to the user through the interface.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rechargeable power source that supplies power to the mobile device and is located in the mobile device,

wherein the first multi-loop coil is connected to circuitry for charging the rechargeable power source.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the charging circuitry is tuned such that an impedance at audio frequency as seen from the first multi-loop coil is greater than a threshold impedance.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the broadcast multi-loop coil receives the electromagnetic signal from an amplifier that converts an audio signal received from an audio source to the electromagnetic signal.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first multi-loop coil can be used as a transmitting or receiving antenna for communicating with a near-field communication (NFC) terminal.

6. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first multi-loop coil can be used for both charging the rechargeable power source and for communicating with a near-field communication (NFC) terminal.

7. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first multi-loop coil can be used simultaneously for capturing the electromagnetic signal broadcast from the broadcast multi-loop coil and for charging the rechargeable power source.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the interface is a wireless earpiece.

9. A method for receiving and processing a plurality of electromagnetic signals, including electromagnetic signals from a broadcast multi-loop coil that encircles a space near where a mobile device is located, the method comprising:

processing, using a processor located in the mobile device, the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

communicating, using an interface in operable communication with the processor, to a user of the mobile device information pertaining to at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

capturing, by a first multi-loop coil located in the mobile device, an electromagnetic signal broadcast from the broadcast multi-loop coil; and

receiving, at an amplifier located in the mobile device, the electromagnetic signal from the first multi-loop coil and converting the electromagnetic signal into at least one of an audio signal and a RF signal that is audibly communicated to the user through the interface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

using the first multi-loop coil, charging a rechargeable power source associated with the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

using the first multi-loop coil, transmitting an electromagnetic signal to or receiving an electromagnetic signal from an NFC terminal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the interface is a wireless earpiece.

13. A computer program product for receiving and processing a plurality of electromagnetic signals, including electromagnetic signals from a broadcast multi-loop coil that encircles a space in which a mobile device is located, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for;

processing, using a processor located in the mobile device, the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

communicating, using an interface in operable communication with the processor, to a user of the mobile device information pertaining to at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic signals;

capturing, by a first multi-loop coil located in the mobile device, an electromagnetic signal broadcast from the broadcast multi-loop coil; and

receiving, at an amplifier located in the mobile device, the electromagnetic signal from the first multi-loop coil and converting the electromagnetic signal into at least one of an audio signal and a RF signal that is audibly communicated to the user through the interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further comprises a set of codes for:

using the first multi-loop coil, charging a rechargeable power source associated with the mobile device.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further comprises a set of codes for:

using the first multi-loop coil, transmitting an electromagnetic signal to or receiving an electromagnetic signal from an NFC terminal.